Depression damages health in more ways than what meets the eye. A common mental health condition, it can significantly raise risk of chronic conditions, which may have an impact on longevity.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that people with a history of depression develop chronic conditions 30% faster than those without it, which calls for recognizing depression not just as a mental health disorder but also a whole-body condition, requiring more integrated health approaches.
The study involved over 170,000 adults and found that those with depression or history of depression developed chronic physical conditions like osteoarthritis, hypertension, and acid reflux at a much faster rate than those who didn't have it.
Depressive disorder or depression is a mental disorder that involves a loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time. It is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life. People who have lived through abuse, severe losses or other stressful events are more likely to develop depression.
How depression leaves a long-term impact on physical health
Depression may trigger symptoms like insomnia or a lack of deep sleep, which could impact your immune system and make existing illnesses worse.
The researchers highlight that depression should be recognized as a "whole-body” condition, and need an integrated approach for treatment of both mental and physical health.
Depression has been linked to an increased risk of physical illnesses which includes heart disease and diabetes.
The team of researchers in this study provides an insight on how quickly physical conditions accumulate in people with and without the history of depression.
The key findings of the studyThe study, done over around 7 years, involved 172,556 participants in the UK Biobank, aged between 40 to 71 and the study years were between 2006 and 2010. Around 69 physical conditions were taken into account.
It was found at the beginning of the study that people with a history of depression already had an average of three physical conditions, compared to two in those with no depression. As the time passed, people with depression developed an average of 0.2 additional conditions per year, while those without it accumulated 0.16. The most commonly diagnosed new conditions were osteoarthritis - 15.7% of those with depression and 12.5% without. Others were hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
“People who’ve experienced depression are more likely to develop long-term physical health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes; however, existing healthcare systems are designed to treat individual conditions, instead of individual people with multiple conditions. We need healthcare services to take an integrated approach to caring for people who have both depression and long-term physical health conditions," wrote the authors.
Common symptoms of depression
Emotional symptomsPersistent sadness or low mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed (anhedonia)
Feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, or worthlessness
Increased irritability or frustration
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Physical symptomsFatigue or low energy
Changes in appetite (overeating or loss of appetite)
Unintentional weight gain or loss
Sleep disturbances (insomnia or excessive sleeping)
Unexplained aches and pains
Behavioral symptomsWithdrawing from friends and family
Decreased productivity at work or school
Engaging in reckless or self-destructive behaviors
Increased substance use (alcohol, drugs)
If these symptoms persist for over two weeks, one must seek professional help.
